Lighting element

Abstract

A lighting element includes a circuit board including at least one illuminator, a housing having an optical element in register with the at least one illuminator on the circuit board and the housing including a peripheral wall enveloping a periphery of the circuit board, a heat sink in alignment with the housing.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A lighting element comprising:
 a circuit board including at least one illuminator; 
 a housing having an optical element in register with the at least one illuminator on the circuit board, and the housing including a peripheral wall enveloping a periphery of the circuit board, the housing having at least one inwardly-extending leg having a retainer thereon; and 
 a heat sink having at least one recess in alignment with the at least one inwardly-extending leg on the peripheral wall of the housing; 
 wherein the inwardly-extending leg extends toward another portion of the peripheral wall, different from which the inwardly-extending leg extends, and wherein the inwardly-extending leg is positioned between the circuit board and the heat sink. 
 
     
     
       2. The lighting element of  claim 1  wherein the optical element is made from a flexible silicone material. 
     
     
       3. The lighting element of  claim 1  wherein the alignment of the at least one recess of the heat sink and the at least one inwardly-extending leg forms a weather-tight seal. 
     
     
       4. The lighting element of  claim 1  wherein the retainer on the at least one inwardly-extending leg of the housing is located within the recess on the heat sink. 
     
     
       5. The lighting element of  claim 1  wherein the optical element includes attenuation elements. 
     
     
       6. The lighting element of  claim 1  wherein the optical element includes a first flexible silicone molding positioned in an optical path of the at least one illuminator and a second flexible silicone molding positioned about the periphery of the first flexible silicone molding and including the peripheral wall and the at least one inwardly-extending leg. 
     
     
       7. The lighting element of  claim 6  wherein at least one of the first flexible silicone molding or second flexible silicone molding is at least partially opaque. 
     
     
       8. The lighting element of  claim 1 , wherein the inwardly-extending leg is positioned directly between the circuit board and the heat sink. 
     
     
       9. A lighting element for a mounting surface comprising:
 a circuit board including at least one illuminator; 
 a housing having an optical element in register with the at least one illuminator on the circuit board, and the housing including a peripheral wall enveloping a periphery of the circuit board, the housing having at least one inwardly-extending leg having a retainer thereon; and 
 a heat sink having at least one recess in alignment with the at least one inwardly-extending leg on the peripheral wall of the housing; 
 wherein the inwardly-extending leg is positioned between the circuit board and the heat sink, and wherein the peripheral wall forms a weather-tight seal with the mounting surface. 
 
     
     
       10. The lighting element of  claim 9 , wherein the periphery wall is a continuous periphery wall and wherein the inwardly-extending leg extends toward an opposite portion of the peripheral wall. 
     
     
       11. The lighting element of  claim 9 , wherein the optical element is made from a flexible silicone material. 
     
     
       12. The lighting element of  claim 11 , wherein a mounting of the lighting element to the mounting surface compresses the peripheral wall toward the mounting surface. 
     
     
       13. The lighting element of  claim 9  wherein the alignment of the at least one recess of the heat sink and the at least one inwardly-extending leg forms a weather-tight seal. 
     
     
       14. A lighting element comprising:
 a circuit board including at least one illuminator thereon; 
 a housing having an optical element in register with the at least one illuminator on the circuit board and a peripheral wall enveloping a periphery of the circuit board, the housing having at least one inwardly-extending leg having a retainer thereon; and 
 a heat sink having at least one recess in alignment with the at least one inwardly-extending leg on the peripheral wall of the housing; 
 wherein the inwardly-extending leg is layered between the circuit board and the heat sink, and in a compressive relationship with the heat sink. 
 
     
     
       15. The lighting element of  claim 14 , wherein the optical element is made from a flexible silicone material, and wherein the inwardly-extending leg is compressible relative to the heat sink. 
     
     
       16. The lighting element of  claim 15  further comprising a fastener, and wherein a compressive force from the fastener forces the inwardly-extending leg toward the heat sink, and compressing the inwardly-extending leg with the heat sink to form a weather-tight seal. 
     
     
       17. The lighting element of  claim 15  further comprising a fastener, and wherein when the fastener is mounted to a mounting surface, a compressive force from the fastener forces the peripheral wall of the housing toward the mounting surface to form a weather-tight seal. 
     
     
       18. The lighting element of  claim 14  wherein the retainer on the at least one inwardly-extending leg of the housing is located within the recess on the heat sink. 
     
     
       19. The lighting element of  claim 14 , wherein the periphery wall is a continuous periphery wall and wherein the inwardly-extending leg extends toward an opposite portion of the peripheral wall. 
     
     
       20. The lighting element of  claim 14  wherein the optical element includes a first flexible silicone molding positioned in an optical path of the at least one illuminator and a second flexible silicone molding positioned about the periphery of the first flexible silicone molding and including the peripheral wall and the at least one inwardly-extending leg.